Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, has publicly questioned the presence of Ebonyi State Resident Electoral Commissioner Pauline Ugoyenka in Osun State ahead of the governorship election. The artist raised the concern in a post on his verified X handle on Thursday.
According to reports, Ugoyenka arrived in Osun State despite the state not being her assigned jurisdiction. Reacting to the development, Davido wrote: “She was not deployed by INEC. What is she doing in Osun. She was sent here from Governor Hope Uzodimma to rig. We will resist you, madam.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission had not issued any statement on the matter at the time of reporting. The Osun State governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026. The contest is expected to feature incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is Davido’s uncle, seeking re-election against candidates from the All Progressives Congress, the African Democratic Congress, and other parties.
The allegation has drawn attention to electoral integrity concerns in the build-up to the poll. Observers note that the deployment of electoral officials outside their designated states is irregular and could undermine confidence in the process. Political stakeholders in Osun have called for clarity from INEC regarding Ugoyenka’s presence and her official status in the state.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who Davido named in the post, has not responded to the accusation. The APC, which controls the federal government and several states, has also not commented on the specific claim.
As the election date approaches, the commission faces pressure to address the situation transparently. Civil society groups have urged INEC to investigate and provide a public explanation to maintain trust in the electoral framework. The outcome of the Osun contest is viewed as a significant indicator of political dynamics in the South-West region ahead of future national Elections.
